

Bourbon Pursuit
Bourbon Pursuit
The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 11, 2022 • 1h 2min
TWiB: House Bill 500 Passes for Barrel Selections, OFC 1982 6L bottle In The First Ever NFT Auction, Heaven Hill Releases TWO 17 Year Old Bourbons
It's This Week in Bourbon for March 11th 2022. House Bill 500 Passes to legitimize the KY barrels selection process, Buffalo Trace OFC 1982 is being released in a 6L bottle in the first ever NFT auction, and Heaven Hill Releases TWO 17 year old bourbons.Show Notes:
Pritzker Private Capital acquires Bardstown Bourbon Company
House Bill 500 passes to provide clarity in the process of selecting private barrels at Kentucky distilleries
Global alcoholic beverage e-commerce market is forecast to reach US$30.5 billion by 203
Maker’s Mark unveils a new Maker’s Mark 46 bottle and design
Chris Stapleton releases his own EH Taylor barrel selection to raise funds for charity
An incendiary World War II bomb was found on the Buffalo Trace property
Brown-Forman Corporation reported financial results for its third quarter
The Evan Williams American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund application is now open
Bulleit enters the RTD space with Bulleit Crafted Cocktails
Chattanooga Whiskey’s 2022 Single Barrel picks will be broadly distributed as a mix-pack
Rod & Hammer’s SLO Stills whiskey that’s Cut With The Pacific RTD
Jack Daniel’s Canned Cocktails series are ready to hit shelves nationwide
The second batch of Blue Run High Rye Bourbon is being released
Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye is set to be released
Barrell Bourbon is releasing Batch 032
Buffalo Trace OFC 1982 is being released in a 6L bottle in the first ever NFT auction
Spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald will be 17 years old
Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof new line
McCormick & Co. Inc. is launching Old Bay vodka
@bardstownbourbonco @makersmark @ehtaylorbourbon @buffalotrace @buffalotracedistillery @chrisstapleton @brownforman @evanwillamsbourbon @bulleit @chattwhiskey @slostills @jackdaniels_us @bluerunspirits @michterswhiskey @barrellbourbon @heavenhilldistillery @oldbay_seasoning @mcclintockdistilling
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Mar 10, 2022 • 1h 2min
348 - Pritzker Acquires Bardstown Bourbon, Can Cooperages Keep Up Pace?, and When Will Bourbon Prices Increase? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #66
It's Bourbon Community Roundtable #66 and here's what we have on the topic list for today! Pritzker Private Capital Acquires Bardstown Bourbon Company. What does that mean for the pioneer of hospitality in Bardstown? As bourbon capital spending increases and barrel shortage is on the horizon, can cooperages keep up? Raw materials, shipping, and cost to market is increasing. Beam has already announced price hikes to its premium bourbon brands like Booker's and Knob Creek. How long should bourbon companies keep absorbing these costs and should we expect prices to go up across the board?Show Notes:
Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about blind tastings.
Pritzker Private Capital Acquires Bardstown Bourbon Company. What does that mean for the pioneer of hospitality in Bardstown?
As bourbon capital spending increases and barrel shortage is on the horizon, can cooperages keep up?
Raw materials, shipping, and cost to market is increasing. How long should bourbon companies keep absorbing these costs and should we expect prices to go up?
@bourbonr @breakingbourbon @sippn_corn
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Mar 8, 2022 • 5min
Whiskey Quickie: Elvis Tiger Man Whiskey Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Elvis Tiger Man Whiskey from Grain and Barrel Spirits. This 2.5 year old whiskey is 90 proof and $50 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 2022 • 44min
TWiB: Russian Alcohol Is The Latest Target in Backlash, Kentucky Cooperage Announces a $4.1M Expansion, Woodford Reserve's 2022 Kentucky Derby Bottle
It's This Week in Bourbon for March 4th 2022. Russian-made alcohol is the latest target in the growing backlash, Kentucky Cooperage announces a $4.1M expansion, and Woodford Reserve releases their 2022 Kentucky Derby bottleShow Notes:
Russian-made alcohol is the latest target in the growing backlash
MGP Ingredients Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results
Kentucky Cooperage announces a $4.1M expansion
Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey and Americana singer/songwriter Ryan Necci announce their collaboration
Diageo has invested $110 million in expanding their Diageo Lincolnway RTD facility
Nine distilleries have formed the Texas Whiskey Trail
Bourbon barrels travel the Rimrocker Trail from Swamp Fox Distillery
Berkshire Mountain Distillers recently released three new whiskeys distilled from beer
Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey announces Release 041
Woodford Reserve releases their 2022 Kentucky Derby bottle
Sagamore Spirit releases their Reserve Series Rum Cask Finish Rye Whiskey
@independentstavecompany @buzzardsroostwhiskey @buffalogospel @diageo @diageo_na @texaswhiskeytrail @swampfoxspirits @berkshiremtdist @copperworksdist @woodfordreserve @kentuckyderby @sagamorespirit
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Mar 3, 2022 • 58min
347 - An Insider's Look at Quality Control and Remembering the '96 Fire at Heaven Hill with Tawnie Gootee
We're always looking for veterans of the bourbon industry to bring on the show to talk about their story and career growth. Tawnie Gootee has been at Heaven Hill for nearly 30 years and has done it all. I mean, they used to have to rotate workers to give tours when a small group of people would show up. But Tawnie has excelled in her career and worked with Mike Sonne and other Heaven Hill elites to become one of the most respected palates in the industry and she gives us the low down on the quality control process at Heaven Hill. This episode is also very significant because this year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1996 fire at Heaven Hill. Tawnie remembers the first phone calls and what it was like in the days following the aftermath. It's a true testament to how the bourbon industry really works together.Show Notes:
This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the taste of bourbon.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up at Heaven Hill.
What was the tour experience like 30 years ago?
How did you hone your tasting skills?
What happens when you find a barrel that's not acceptable?
Explain what reading the tank means.
How often do you get complaints?
How long do you keep samples?
Talk about cork taint.
What's your high end inspection?
Talk about the process of creating limited edition products.
Can you tell us about the fire of 1996?
@heavenhilldistillery
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Mar 1, 2022 • 4min
Whiskey Quickie: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921. This 12 year old bourbon is 120.2 proof and $70 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2022 • 45min
TWiB: MGP Begins $12M Barrel Warehouse Expansion, Beam Suntory Is Raising Prices on Bourbon, Old Forester Releases 117 Series 1910 Extra Old
It's This Week in Bourbon for Febuary 25th 2022. MGP has begun a $12 million barrel warehouse expansion, Beam Suntory's global net sales were up and the company is looking at raising prices, and Old Forester releases the third installment of The 117 Series – 1910 Extra OldShow Notes:
Beer companies are poised for steep price hikes of barley due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis
MGP announced it has begun a $12 million barrel warehouse expansion
Freeland Spirits is set to collaborate with the new Bourbon Women Foundation
Beam Suntory's global net sales were up and the company is looking at raising prices
Wild Turkey delivered 10.9% growth last year, boosted by international markets
TX® Whiskey launches a new campaign starring award-winning actor and producer, Scoot McNairy
Party Horses announced today Maker's Mark® will be its official bourbon partner for 2022
/r/dcwhiskey reddit theorizes that Virginia ABC stores are leaking information to specific individuals
Old Forester releases the third installment of The 117 Series – 1910 Extra Old
The Kentucky Derby Festival Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon is released
Crown Royal releases a new limited edition Whisky Lemonade RTD
Lost Ash Ridge Farm in Waddy KY, has unveiled Southern Sweet Kentucky Bourbon flavored sausage
@mgpingredientscollab @freelandspirits @bourbonwomen @beamsuntory @wildturkey @txwhiskey @makersmark @partyhorses @oldforester @evanwilliamsbourbon @kyderbyfestival @crownroyal
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Feb 24, 2022 • 1h 4min
346 - Stave Science with Andrew Wiehebrink of Independent Stave Company
Every few months we find a guest that scratches that itch when we want to get into the science of bourbon, and today we're talking about wood. Everyone has a different answer when it comes to the question of "how much influence does the barrel have on the whiskey?". Is it 20%? 90%? 70%? Our guest today is going to help us get closer to finding that magic number. Andrew Wiehebrink is the Director of Spirit Research and Innovation at Independent Stave Company and his job is to get real deep and nerdy into wood and the millions of permutations you can have that affects the taste of your whiskey. We ask all the questions you want to know about the effects of char levels, toasting, stave seasoning, and storage on a hypothetical and scientific level. His role at ISC has him working on multi-year experiments with wood varietals and aging conditions to see what hasn't been discovered yet. He has worked directly with Maker's Mark to create the finishing staves used in their private barrel program and we try to figure out why they would even consider getting rid of the mocha stave.Show Notes:
Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about union strikes.
Talk about your background and journey
Why seek out wood science vs mechanical engineering with distillation?
What was oak R&D like 5 years ago?
What was the wine industry doing to start making the bourbon industry look at alternatives to just Char 4?
What made Char 3 or 4 the gold standard?
What's the highest char level you've tested?
Was there any bookkeeping to see what barrel experimentation has been done through ISC's history?
What are your key metrics you're trying to hit? Flavor? Faster aging?
When you start an experiment do you have a hypothesis or just wait for data?
Any experiments when it comes to sustainability?
Any experiments with the same oak grown in different locations?
What is the average age of a harvested oak tree?
How does stave seasoning play a role in this process?
Talk about the process of figuring out the stave profiles at Maker's Mark
What do you think about them getting rid of the mocha stave?
Do you have a special day set aside for tasting experiments?
Is it easier to work with Maker's Mark because they have a more consistent product?
When you use a toasted barrel once, is its lifespan over?
Can you name one experiment that was a mistake?
Do you feel that consumers take the barrel for granted?
Say I have bad distillate, what barrels can you suggest?
Has a customer ever asked you for something so off-the-wall that you had to decline them?
Are mizunara cask trends here to stay?
@independantstavecompany
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Feb 22, 2022 • 4min
Whiskey Quickie: The Wiseman Bourbon Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review The Wiseman from Kentucky Owl. This non-age stated bourbon is 90.8 proof and $60 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 2022 • 31min
TWiB: Legal Bills To Save Barrel Picks, Louisville Slugger Museum Ventures into Bourbon, Eastside Distilling Releases Luxardo Whiskey
It's This Week in Bourbon for Febuary 18th 2022. Two new pieces of legislature have been introduced to save barrel picks, Louisville Slugger Museum is getting into bourbon tourism, and Portland's Eastside Distilling will release its first ever Maraschino Cherry Whiskey.Show Notes:
Icons of American Whiskey Awards
Apax Funds has acquired a controlling stake in Ole Smoky Distillery
The International Journal of Drug Policy suggests that "alcohol may fall down the policy agenda"
Two new pieces of legislature have been introduced to save barrel picks
The company who operates Louisville Slugger is opening Barrels and Billets
Eastside Distilling will release a Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Whiskey
@americanwhiskeymag @olesmokey @fredminnick @slugger_museum @sluggernation @barrelsandbillets @eastsidedistilling @luxardousa @luxardoofficial
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